Oliver Finally Catching On

August 11, 1985|By Paula J. Finocchio of The Sentinel Staff

The Tampa Tarpons may not be the kingfish of the Florida State League, but they have a whale of a player in Joe Oliver.

A feared hitter among his FSL opponents, Oliver has come into his own this season, displaying prowess at the plate for the Tarpons. In May, he batted .379 (25-66) and put together a 17-game hitting streak, a mark that eclisped the 1978 record of 16 games held by Eddie Milner. Oliver hit .324 in June, .291 in July and has driven in 57 runs -- nine of those runs have been game-winning RBIs.

Tampa is in third place in the FSL Western Division.

Oliver was one of four Tarpons chosen to the FSL All-Star team in July.

Savoring the finest season of his young career, Oliver, 20, has emerged as a top catching prospect.

But it hasn't been smooth sailing along the way.

In 1983, he was the second-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds out of Orlando Boone High School. His first year of professional baseball in the Midwest League produced mediocre results.

''I struggled my first season,'' Oliver said. ''It was a big adjustment coming out of high school to pro baseball.

''I was playing with more older and experienced guys with talent.''

Oliver struggled at the plate. A free swinger, his average slipped to .217, which pointed out his inexperience.

Patience was not one of Oliver's better virtues.

His second season (Class A Cedar Rapids) was not much better, and Oliver began having second thoughts about his future.

''I was a little disappointed my first two years. I was thinking that I might have made a mistake and wondering if I should have gone to college.''

His hitting instructors and coaches could not offer any more help than they had. It was up to Oliver to make the adjustment.

He did.

During the 1984 off-season, Oliver put himself through a rigorous training program and shed 10 pounds off his 6-foot-3 frame. He weighs a solid 215 pounds.